Coordinate switch



Novzwll 1924. 1,514,850

H. w. GOFF COORDINATE SWITCH Filed April 13, 1922 Patented Nov. 11,1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD \V. GOFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO "WESTERN ELECTRICCOMPANY,

INCORPORATED, OF NEW YOK N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COORDINATE SWITCH.

Application filled April 13, 1922.

T all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, HAROLD W. Gorr, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Coordinate Switches,'ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic telephone exchange switchingapparatus and more particularly to the so-called coordinate switches ofthe type adapted for establishing connections in an automatic telephoneexchange system.

This invention is particularly adaptable to a switching system of thetype disclosed in the British Patent 183,438, issued to e-stern ElectricCompany, Limited, accepted September 6, 1923, but it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that this invention may be applied equally wellto perform other switching functions with few changes in the operatingcircuit. In the switch as disclosed in the above mentioned application,operating cards or camming members are provided for each set of activewire conductors for moving the conductors into engagement with linkconductors with a rubbing action. These camming members beingnecessarily made of insulation material, due to the great number ofoperations they are subjected to, are subject to considerable wear.

By this present invention, it is proposed to reduce the wear on thecards by relieving them of their oamming action and by providingrotatable members each carrying a set of the link conductors common tothe vertical rows of flexible conductors. The said link conductors beingmovable are adapted to effect a rubbing contact with their associatedsets of flexible conductors.

The object of this invention is therefore to provide an economical andimproved form of coordinate switch which will be compact, simple andreliable in operation.

In this switch both sets of conductors, the link conductors and theflexible conductors, are preferably in the form of bare wires, althoughone set ofconductors may be in the form of strips of metal having lugsextending at intervals therefrom and arranged in staggered positionrelatively to one another. The flexible conductors cross the linkconductors and are normally held out of con- Serial No. 552,222.

tact with them by means of a plurality of guides in the shape of cardsof insulation, one of which'is individual. to each set of flexibleconductors. Selecting and operating mechanism comprising sets of bars ispro vided whereby any gulde may be moved in dependently of the others tobring its associated conductors into engagement with the adjacent set ofconductors.

It is thought that the invention will be best understood from thefollowing detailed description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing in which Fig. 1 is a partial front assembly view of said switch,showing a-set of flexed conductors in operated position.

Fig. 2 is a side View of Fig. 1 showing two sets of rotatable conductorsone in normal and the other in operated position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective and partial assembly view of a rotatableoperating member showing a set of link conductors thereon.

Fig. 4 is aperspective and partial assembly view of a modified form ofrotatable operating member and link conductors.

The set of link conductors 1, 2, 3 and 1, Fig. 3, are assembled betweentwo strips of insulation 9 andlO. In strip 10, there are a number ofslots through which the laterally extending loops or lugs 5, 6, 7, 8,etc., protrude. The twostrips are rigidly fastened together and heldsecure on the rota-- table bar 11 by means of screws 12.

Supports 13-of insulating material are disposed at right angles to bars11. On these supports are arranged the horizontally disposed sets offlexible wire conductors or contact springs 14:, 15, 16, 17 and 14, 15',16, 17, etc. The supports 13 may carry any desired number of sets ofcontact springs which depend. upon the switch capacity desired. Forsimplicity of illustration, however, onlytwo such sets are shown onsupport 13 in the cross sectioned view of Fig. 2 and the supports inFig. 1 have been omitted. The free ends of conductors 11, 15, 16, 17,Figs. 1 and 3, extend through in; dividual apertures 18, 19, 20, 21 ofan insulating member or guide 22 which is mounted on a resilient support23 fixed at one end portion to the upright support 13. The free end 21of support 23 normally rests against the adjacent rotatable bar 11. asshown at 32 in Fig. 1. The supports 23 shown) in the switch frame 37.Sec'urelyfl attached to each bar 25 is an armature 26 which is arrangedto beattracted by electromagnet 27 whereby the bar 25 is operatedthrough" a" small angular displacement;

29", one individual toeach guide 22 of the row with which-at isassociated.

Each of said rotatable bars ll or operat ing barsas theyniay beproperlytermed, is

provided with apla te 31, secured thereto the' screws 12, having anumber of rigid arms 28. Each arni 28"'is individu'a'l to a guide 22andh'a's'a lug portion 33 which extends through the vertical slot 34 ofits associated -card 22 and servesas a guide there for;

The guides "22 are each provided" at their lower end witlia horizontalslot '30 lliVlllCll the free ends-of arms 29 are located,- but freeto'inove therein to and from engageable position with arm's'28f It willbe noted that normally arms 29 are outof the path of said arms 28*.hen'the' vertical bar'25 isrotated "out of its'nori'nal position byelectromagnet27' the endportion'of arm 29'is driven int'o' 'engagea-blerelation with arm 28and movement "of bar 11 through'the' op eration ofarmature'fidot magnet 36, results in lowering the operating guide 22 soas to permitthe' conductors lt, 15,16,17 to engage'the loops 5,6, 7, 8of link conductors l,

2, 3, l, respectively. Continuedmovement of'bar 111 causes aslight wipng action be'- tween the engaged flexible conductors and the linkconductors. The operated link bar together with arms 28" thereof remainin' their off norinal position throughout the duration of theconnectioin'but the vertical bar' 25 may bef immediately restored tonormal; v

Refering to the modification of Fig. 4, the link"conduct0rs 1, 2, 3 and4 are mounted ona rota-table channel sha'ped bar 11 and ar'e'insulatedtherefrom by inea'iis of insulation'stripS 55,56, 57 and 58. The in-'sulation strip58' is provided with groups of lateral notches 59, 60, 61,62, etc.,' in'which the free ends of flexible'wireconductors'la, 15,16,'17,etc., are positioned in engage-able relation with theirrespective link con-' ductor's" What is claimed'is:

1.1 1 a switching mechanism, rotatable members, sets ofconducting-elements arrangedin parallel on said members, sets offlexible conductors arranged on stationary supports and inrowscoordinate to said sets of conducting elements, an operating cardfor each set of said flexible conductors, means for selectivelyestablishing connections between said sets of elements and said sets ofconductors through the movement of said cards, and means in said cardsfor holding said flexible conductors in adjusted position'with referenceto said elements.

2. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of rotatable members, sets ofconducting elements insulatedly arranged on said members and broughtthrough said insulation at intervals, sets'of 'fiexibleconductors-"arranged 'on' stationary supports in rows color'dinate' tosaid sets of conducting elements, an insulating card Zto'reaclfsetotsaid lie'xie ble"condu'ctors, and me'anstor selectivelyestablishing connections between said sets of elements and said sets ofconductors through the movement of said cards and'said niembers. v j j3. In a switching" mechanism, movable members,i sets of conductingelements ar ranged in parallel on said members, each or said elementshaving contact Iugstdrmed' integrally therewith, sets of flexibleconductors arranged'on stationary supports for cooperation with saidcontact lugs, a. card for eachsetof'saidfiexible conductors and a commonmechanism for establishing connections between said'sets of elements andsaid sets of conductors.

4:. In" a switching mechanism, moi'rable members, sets of conductingelements ar ranged'in'parallel on'said members, each of said elementshaving upwardly extending contact lugs formedintegrally therewith, setsof flexible conductorsarranged on'sta tionarysupports andin rowscoordinate to said sets of conducting elements, anop'erat ing card forea'ch set of flexible conductors, and a common mechai'iism' for.selectively establishing connections between sa id sets" offconduct'ors'andthe lugs of 'saidsets" of elements. o

5. In a "switching' n1echanis1n, sets" of par allel conducting 'jelements, having P contact lugs formed integrally therewith, sets offlexible conductors arranged on stationary supports and in rowscoordinate to said sets of elements, coordinately disposed sets ofselectingand operating bars, and meansoperative through tlie conjointoperation of said sets orbars for selectively establishing connectionsbetween said sets of conductors and the lugsjot said sets of elements.

6. *In' a switching mechanism, sets 0t par: allel conducting K elements,each having .lugsf formed integrally therewith, thelug's of theconductors of "each 'set' being} staggered 'rel'ae tively'to each other,sets ot'fiexible' conductors arranged on stationary supports "and inrowsjcoordinate to said sets 0t elements, c0- ordinately disposed'sets'ot selecting .and'ope erating bars, and means operative throughthe conjoint operation of said sets of bars for selectively establishingconnections between said sets of conductors and the lugs of said sets ofelements.

7. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of rotatable members, twoplates of insulating material secured on each of said members, one ofsaid plates having staggered slots therein, a set of conducting elementssecured between said plates having portions extending through said slotsto form contacts, sets of flexible conductors arranged on stationarysupports in rows coordinate to said sets of conducting elements, andmeans for selectively establishing connections between said sets ofconductors and the contact portions of said elements through themovement of said members.

8. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of rotatable members, sets ofconducting elements arranged in parallel and carried insulatedly by saidmembers, said conducting elements being brought through said insulationat intervals in staggered relation to one another, sets of flexibleconductors arranged on upright supports and in rows coordinate to saidsets of conducting elements, a selecting bar for each row of flexibleconductors, a plurality of arms on each of said selecting bars, saidarms associated with said sets of flexible conductors individually, butnormally out of operable relation therewith, and means operative throughthe conjoint operation of said members and the arms of said bars forselectively establishing connections between said sets of elements andsaid sets of conductors.

9. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of rotatable members, sets ofconducting elements insulatedly arranged thereon, sets of laterallyextending contact lugs disposed at intervals in staggered relation toone another on said elements, horizontally disposed sets of flexedconductors arranged on stationary supports and in rows coordinate tosaid sets of conducting elements, a bar individual to each row offlexible conductors, a plurality of laterally extending arms on saidbars, each of said arms associated individually with one of said sets offlexible conductors, means for rotating said bars individually, and aplurality of laterally extending arms on each of said rotatable members,the conjoint rotation of any one of said members and any one of saidbars being eflective to release a set of said flexed conductors intoengagement with its associated set of said conducting elements.

10. In a switching mechanism, a phu'ality of rotatable members, sets ofconducting elements arranged in parallel and insulatedly carried by saidmembers, sets of laterally extending contact lugs on said elements,horizontally disposed sets of flexible conductors arranged on supportsand extending over said contact lugs, each flexed conductor crossing oneof said contact lugs but normally out of contact therewith, a movablesupport for each set of flexible conductors normally maintaining saidconductors out of contact with said sets of conducting elements, aselecting bar individual to each row of flexible conductors, and meansacting on said movable support and brought into operation by theconjoint actuation of one of said selecting bars and one of saidrotatable members to release the conductors supported thereby intoengagement with a set of contact lugs.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of April,A. D. 1922.

HAROLD WV. GOFF.

